redrobin
Discovery
Objective of the gig club this year is to get out and see new bands. These days bands go from zero to massive in about a year and it gets harder and harder to get tickets for gigs. So we decided to take a step back on the road to stardom and see bands that are just starting out.
Last night we went to see Oversol at the 100 Club (never been there, great venue). The band started out OK but their last few songs really reached a crescendo and got me going. Think Athlete but without the kookiness,. mockney hiccuping and with a harder edge. Good.
Not so good, yards of Staropramen and some cigarettes. Let myself down.
Even Better
Thanks to the route-mapper at RunLondon I realise that my 10 mile Sunday bike ride was actually a 13 mile Sunday bike ride. My poor posterior.
F.E.A.R.
Well the initial excitement from the holiday has died down and the realisation has sunk in that I have booked onto an ACTIVE trip. Now, I lead a reasonably active lifestyle but would still class myself more as sloth rather than gym bunny. So, now I have the fear that my trip mates will turn out to be a bunch of lycra-clad, macrobiotic fitness fiends and I will be lagging behind. I have also find out that one of the walks on the trip is a 4 hour hike up a hill to some shrine which is already intimidating me. I'll definitely be able to do it but if it is anything like my ascent of the Great Wall of China it will be a ponderous and wheezy climb. I told my personal trainer what was coming up and he immediately chaged the focus of my sessions from running to climbing on the treadmill and cycling.
This morning I was compelled to get out of bed early and do a 10-mile cycle ride. Sometimes London can be a surprising city. I went down to Kew Bridge, along the river through Richmond to Ham and then saw an intriguing ferry to cross the river to Twickenham. Literally a man with a metal boat and an outboard. Tremendous.
Holiday Celebrate
Finally found the trip I want. In 2 weeks I'm off to Sri Lanka for cycling, trekking, abandoned monestaries, elephants, rafting, snorkling and chilling. Perfect opportunity to get away from it all, have a think about work and, importantly, have some fun.
Whisper Whisper
Furious gossip flying around work about the payout from share options. You can't move for long-term employees huddling together, heads bowed, eyes furtively glancing round, tongues speculating about how much and when. Its very exciting. We dare to dream about what could be, and are afraid for what the reality may bring. There will be 2 batches; one paid immediately and one paid in two years if we are still working for the company. Depending on the value, I may need to rethink my job hunt.
Disappointing
1. Can't seem to find a holiday that is either in the right place, has the right escape factor, on budget or the right dates. Looks like I shall be spending Easter in London. Any suggestions?
2. Flopped onto my lovely brown sofa this evening and heard a sickening crunch noise. Further inspection revealed a sagging middle and broken beam. Looks like some DIY will be required. Gutted.
Bliss
On Friday I spent the day at The Sanctuary Spa in London with my Mum and Sister. We treated my Mum as a reward for passing her nursing degree last year. Well, what a lovely way to spend a Friday. Lounging around in a bath robe, having various massages, mud packs and pedicures. Two very odd experiences: 1. a steam bath wearing nothing but a paper thong and various types of mud 2. a dry float which basically involved being wrapped in a large condom and floating for 20 mins. Oddly relaxing.